AU657840B2 - Interchangeable display system - Google Patents

Description

I -n 657840

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Applicant(s): CHAIN REACTION SALES PROMOTION PTY LTD A.C.N. 006 422 420 Actual Inventor(s): Allan R Nelson Address for Service: PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES 26 Ellingworth Parade Box Hill Victoria 3128 Australia Title: INTERCHANGEABLE DISPLAY SYSTEM Associated Provisional Applications: No(s).:PL 1246 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:la INTERCHANGEABLE DISPLAY SYSTEM This invention relates to display systems such as display systems of the kind used in supermarkets and other retail or wholesale merchandise outlets for the purpose of displaying information or promotional material.

There are many display systems known for the purpose of enabling interchange of the display elements, such as product information, price information, and/or graphic material for information or promotional purposes, One known kind of display system utilises two parallel hook shaped extrusions which face each other and enable a display strip to be inserted lengthwise into the extrusions. The display strip element carries the required display matter. A limitation of this system is the restriction of the height of the display element to the separation between the facing extrusions. This lack of versatility of the mounting system for the 9 isplay elements generally limits the use of this kind of display system to use in displaying product and price information normally at the front edge of supermarket display shelves and the like.

Larger displays, e.g. for displaying product or pricing information for goods displayed in an upen location or as a free standing display generally utilise simple display pla.ards. Such placards are usually mounted by any convenient fixing means to any suitable support. Such display systems are generally used only for one particular product display and therefore are not versatile by S 25 using interchangeable elements.

Another display ,ystem that does use interchangeable elements comprises a mounting board having a number of horizontal grooves spaced at equal distances apart. Individual alphabetic or numeric characters having tabs projecting from the rear faces thereof can be individually mounted to the board by pressing the tabs into the grooves in the board so as to be held by an interference fit. This system, although using interchangeable and reusable elements, is tedious to use and also is generally very limited in visual appeal.

It is an object of the present invention to provided an interchangeable display system which enables easy mounting and dismounting of display elements to display information or provide a visually striking or appealing display.

2 An interchangeable display system according to the present invention includes a mrounting and a display element, the mounting comprising an upper face panel having a front face and an elongated lower edge, a lower face panel having a front face and an elongated upper edge, the mounting further including a support backing, the upper and lower face panels being mo~unted to the suport backing so that the upper edge of the lower face panel is spaced forwardly of the support backing so as to define an undercut formation and so that the lower edge of the upper face panel and the upper edge of the lower face panel are spaced apart to define an elongated mo~unting slot which extends lengthwise along the face panels to an end of the face panels where there is an open end of the mo~unting slot, the display element including a rmunting hook which is movunted at the back of the display element, the mo~unting hook having a rearwardly extending leg to pass through the mo~unting slot and also having a downwardly turned foot to locate behind the undercut formation and thereby retain the display element against remroval by pulling the display element outwardly away from the mrounting or by lifting of the display element, the mrounting hook being assembled to the mo~unting by passing through the open end of the mo~unting slot and by sliding of the hook along the mrounting slot to locate the display element at its final desired position in front of the miounting, the display element being composed of an upper face panel and a lower face panel.

which are spaced apart to def ine an elongated display element slot extending lengthwise along the face panels to an edge of the face panels where there is an open end of the display element slot, the display element slot being def ined between an upper edge of the lower face panel of the display element and a lower edge of the upper face panel of the display element and the upper edge of the lower face panel of the display element being spaced forwardly of a support backing of the display element so as to define an undercut formation, whereby the display element provides a mounting for a superin-posed display element provided with a mtounting hook at the back of the superimrposed display element, the mrounting hook of the superimposed display element having a rearwardly extending leg to pass through the display element slot and also having a downwardly turned foot to locate behind the undercut formation of the display element.

The support backing may be provided with a concavity adjacent the slot, the undercut formation at the upper edge of the lower face panel being defined by the upper panel edge of the lower face panel overlapping the concavity in the suport backing.

In one embodiment, the support backing may comp~ ise a corrugated backing member with the corrugations extending horizontally so that each corrugation defines a respective concavity. The corrugated backing member may have a front to which the face panels are mo~unted as front face panels, the corrugated backing member having a back along which back corrugations extend so as to define concavities, the display system further including back face panels mo~unted to the back of the corrugated backing member so that the back face panels are spaced apart and define elongated slots along the corrugations and which are arranged to receive mo~unting hooks in the same~ manner as the slots defined between the front face panels.

In a second embodiment, the support backing may comrise a support post which is arranged to be generally upright in use, the support post having at least one concavity formed along its height and arranged so that the undercut formation is defined by mo~unting of the respective face panel to the suprt post so that the respective edge of the face panel overlaps the concavity or a respective concavity in the suprt post.

In a third embodiment, the support backing may comprise a spacing bracket having a concavity, the spacing bracket having respective adjacent face panels mocunted thereto with the undercut formation being defined by the respective one of the face panels overlapping the concavity in the spacing bracket. The spacing bracket may have a front and the concavity may be provided in the front of the spacing bracket with adjacent face panels being mtounted to the front of the spacing bracket, the spacing bracket having a back which is provided with a back concavity whereby back face panels are mounted to the back of the spacing bracket with one of the back panels overlapping the back concavity so as to define an undercut 0 0 toot o 0 Cot .000 00 CC o C o 0 0 (0 oJ 0 o 0 I x f formation extending along a slot defined between adjacent spaced edges of the back face panels and whereby the display system provides a mounting for display elements at both the front and the back of the spacing bracket. In this system, the spacing bracket may comprise a generally H shaped elongated strip having a front web and a back web cul e re di 1

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cie -s l~ ai ai ori r and a transverse connection, each of the front web and back web having a respective central recessed section set back from the general plane of the respective web so as to thereby define the respective concavity, the face panels being mounted to the webs so that slots between the adjacent spaced edges of the face panels extend along in front of the recessed sections. The transverse connection of the spacing bracket may have a hollow formation in transverse section and an open mouth at an end of the elongated spacing bracket, the display system further including a mounting bracket having a tongue which slides through the mouth and into the hollow formation of the spacing bracket, the mounting bracket having a projecting portion which extends in use beyond the side edge of the mounting and is capable of being fixed to an external structure whereby the mounting and the display element can be mounted to the structure so as to project outwardly in cantilever fashion from the structure.

In a fourth embodiment, the support backing may comprise a spacing bracket having the concavity, the undercut formation being defined by overlapping of the respective panel edge over the concavity, the spacing bracket having an upper mounting web to which one of the face panels is mounted and a lower mounting web substantially coplanar with the upper mounting web and to which the immediately lower face panel is mounted, the upper and lower mounting webs being separated by a recessed section defining the concavity, the spacing bracket further including at least one rearwardly extending projection to space the mounting webs forwardly of an adjacent structure to which the spacing bracket is mounted, the spacing bracket further including a hook extending rearwardly beyond the projection whereby the hook can be mounted to a complementary formation in the structure to which the spacing bracket is mounted thereby supporting the spacing bracket and the face panels.

In a fifth embodiment, each face panel may have a spacing projection extending from its rear side, the spacing projection maintaining the respective edges of the panels spaced from the support backing to thereby define the respective undercut formation.

In a further possible arrangement, each face panel which has an associated undercut formation may have a stepped edge defining the undercut formation. Each face panel may be stepped at both its edges so as to define undercut formations at both the upper and lower edges thereof.

Possible and preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. uowever it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention, In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a display system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is sectioned vertically to illustrate the invention, ao Fig., 2 shows a further embodiment of the display system embodying the present invention, Fig. 3 illustrates a spacing bracket as usable in the display system, Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate two possible alternative constructions of spacing brackets, and Fig, 6 shows a possible construction of a face panel which can be used without a concave mounting support, The interchangeable display system in Fig. 1 includes a mounting 10 for a display element 12, The mounting 10 comprises an o upper face panel 15 having a front face 16 and an elongated lower edge 17. A centre face panel 20 (lower than the panel 15) has a front face 21 and an elongated upper edge 22. The mounting further includes a support backling 30, the upper and centre face panels 15, 20 being mounted to the support backing 30 so that the upper edge 22 of the centre face panel 20 is spaced forwardly of the support backing 30 bo as to define an undercut formation 23 and so that the lower edge 17 of the upper face panel 15 and the upper edge 22 of the centre face panel 20 are spaced apart to define an elongated upper slot 35 which extends lengthwise along the face panels 15, 20 to an end of the face panels where there is an open end 36 of the slot 35. A mounting hook 40 is mounted on the back of the display element 12, the mounting hook 40 having a rearwardly extending leg 41 to pass through the slot 35 and also having a downwardly turned foot 42 to locate behind the undercut formation 23 and thereby retain the display element 12 against removal by pulling the display element outwardly away from the mounting or by lifting of the display element. The mounting hook 40 is assembled to the mounting 10 by passing through the open end 36 of the slot 35 and by sliding of the hook 40 along the slot to locate the display element 12 at its final destined position in froat of the mounting It will be understood that the face panels 15, 20 may be of any convenient shape and size. Illustrated is the most simple display system in which the face panels 15, 20 are generally rectangular with the edges thereof extending horizontally and the panels themselves in use being generally vertical. The lower edge 17 of the upper face panel 15 and the adjacent upper edge 22 of the centre face panel are substantially parallel so that the slot 35 has a constant width and extends horizontally.

As shown is Fig. 1, there can be provided three or more face pan,-Is 15, 20, 25, each face panel having an adjacent face panel spaced a short distance therefrom so that each adjacent pair of face panels defines a respective slot 35, 37 for receiving a respective mounting hook.

Th' support backing 30 may be of any suitable construction. In Fig. 1, the backing 30 comprises a corrugated backing member 50 with the corrugations extending horizontally so as to define concavities 51, 52. The face panels 15, 20, 25 may be adhered or fastened to the corrugated backing member 50 so that the adjacent pair of face panels 20 or 20, 25 have their adjacent edges overlapping one of the horizontally extending concavities 51 thereby defining the associated undercut formation 23 and defining slot 35, 37 for receiving mounting hook 40. With this arrangement, several face panels 15, 20, 25 can be mounted to the backing member 50 so that there are two or more slots 35, 37 extending along horizontally on the concave backing.

This enables display elements 12 to be selectively mounted at different heights as desired.

In another possible embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the support backing 30 comprises a simple post 60 having concave formations 61 in a front edge 62, the face panels 15, 20, 25 being mounted to the front edge 62 so that where the adjacent face panels are spaced apart by a short distance to define the associated slots 35, 37, the slots register with the respective formations 61 in the post 60 so that mounting hooks can slide along the slots and pass into and, if desired, through and beyond the concave formations 61 in the post 8 Tn Fig. 3, the support backing 30 comprises a spacing bracket having a concavity 51. Face panels 15, 20 are mounted to the bracket 65 with the undercut formation 23 being defined by the face panel 20 overlapping the concavity 23. The spacing bracket 65 has the concavity 51 provided in the front of the bracket 65. The bracket 65 also has a back which is provided with a back concavity 52 so that back face panels 15a, 20a are mounted to the back nf the bracket 65 with one or, as illustrated, both of the back panels overlapping the back concavity 52 to define undercut formations 23a. Sots 35, 35a extending along both the front and back of the bracket 65 provide for mounting of display elements, The spacing bracket 65 comprises a generally H shaped elongated strip, such as an extrusion, having a front web 66 and a back web 67 and a transverse connection 68, The front and back webs 66, 67 both have central recessed sections set back from the general plane of the respective web so as to define the respective concavities behind the slots 35, 35a. The transverse connection 68 has a hollow formation in transverse section and has an open mouth 69 at an end of the elongated bracket 65. A mounting bracket 70 has a tongue 71 which slides through the mouth 69 and into the hollow formation of the bracket 65, The mounting bracket 70 has a projecting portion 72 which extends in use beyond the assembly of the bracket 65 and associated panels 15, 20, 15a, 20a and is arranged to be fixed to an external structure so that the assembly can be mounted to the structure so as to project outwardly in cantilever fashion from the structure.

In Figs. 4 and 5, the support backing 30 comprises a spacing bracket 75 having the concavity 51. The undercut formation 23 is defined by overlapping of the upper edge of the panel 20 over the concavity 51. The bracket 75 has an upper moui-ing web 76 to which the panel. 15 is mounted and a lower mounting web 77 coplanar with the upper mounting web 76 and to which the panel 20 is mounted. The upper and lower mounting webs 76, 77 are separated by a recessed section defining the concavity 51. Rewardly extending projections 78 serve to space the mounting web;- 76, 77 forwardly of an adjacent structure 79 to which the bracket 75 is mounted. The rear face of the recessed section which defines the concavity 51 also functions in the same manner as the projection 78 to space the webs 76, 77 i, forwardly of the structure 79. A hook 80 extends rearwardly beyond the projection 78 so that the hook 80 can he mounted to a complementary formation in the structure 79 thereby supporting the spacing bracket 75 and the face panels 15, 20. In Fig. 4, the hook 80 is provided at the top edge of the bracket 75. In Fig. 5, hook is provided behind the recessed section defining the concavity 51.

The brackets 75 in both Fig. 4 and 5 may be extrusions composed of a plastics material or metal.

In Fig. 6, the face panels 15, 20 each have a spacing projection 85 extending from their respective rear faces, the projections 85 maintaining the respective edges of the panels 15, spaced from the support backing 30 to thereby define the respective undercut formations 23. In Fig. 6, each face panel 15, 20 has a stepped edge 86 defining the undercut formations. The stepped edges 86 are provided at both upper and lower edges of the panels 15, 20 so as to define undercut formations at both the upper and lower edges of the panels, In another embodiment (not illustrated), the concave backing may comprise a generally U shaped bracket to which the adjacp, 'ace panels are mounted so that the bracket supports the face i in spaced and coplanar relationship.

If desired, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the lower edge 17 of the upper face panel 15 may also overlap the concavity 51 so as to define an upper undercut formation 24 in the respective concavity 51. With this arrangement, a mounting hook 45 may pass through the mouth and have a foot 46 which is turned upwardly to locate behind the upper undercut fonnrmation 24. In Fig, 1 the system includes a mounting hook 40 on the back of the display element 12, the mounting hook 40 having a turned down root 42 to locate within upper slot defined between lower edge 17 of upper face panel 15 and the upper edge 22 of centre face panel 20. The system further includes a lower mounting hook 45 having an upwardly turned foot 46 which engages in lower slot 37 defined between the lower edge 17a of the centre face panel 20 and the upper edge 22a of lower face panel 25. The upper and lower slots 35, 37 are substantially parallel and can receive respectively the upper mounting hook 40 and the lower mounting hook enabling the display element 12 to be moved horizontally along the mounting 10, With this arrangement, the upper mounting hook carries the weight of the display element 12 and prevents the display element 12 being pulled at the top thereof away from the mounting while the lower mounting hook 45 is engaged through the lower slot 37 and retains the lower portion of the display element 12 against being drawn outwardly away from the mounting 10. This arrangement restricts the assembly of the display element 12 to the only possible mode of mounting, namely sliding the display element 12 along from a side edge of the face panels 15, 20, The display element 25 may comprise for example graphic, alphanumeric or pictorial maLter. The simple moun.r.tng of the display elements 12 by sliding them onto the mounting 10 from an edge enables particularly simple mounting and dismounting of the display elements 12 and interchange of the display elements with other display elements. In the possible embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the display element 12 is itself composed of face panels 115, 120, 125, the face panels having adjacent edges spaced apart and overlapping a concave backing 130. With this arrangement, the display element 1.2 itself serves as a mounting for a further superimposed display element 13 which has mounting hooks piojecting rearwardly to mount the display element 13 in the same manner as the mounting of the display element 12, This enables layers of display elements to be built up one upon the other thereby enhancing the ability to provide visually striking displays and/or effective communication of information.

It will be seen that the display system of the present invention can provide double sided mounting. That is, there may be provided at least two face panels 15, 20, 25 on one side of the support backing 30, the opposite or back side of the backing providing further concavities which are associated with two or more back face panels 15a, 20a, 25a which overlap the concavities at the back side of the backing 30. This arrangement can be readily achieved with the backing 30 in the form of a horizontally corrugated core 50 providing concavities on opposite faces thereof (Fig. 1) or with mounting bracl'- 65 recessed on both sides (Fig. Thus the display system can be free-standing with display elements mounted on both sides of the mounting It will be seen that the preferred embodiment of the display system as herein described and illustrated can enable the simple mounting and replacement of a sign element by sliding the mounting -Ilsl~Y L_ Sthe face panels. The mounting hook holds the display element securely against accidental dislodgement except by sliding the display elements the length of the slot to disengage the mounting hook from the slot. The system can enable layers of superimposed sign elements to be built up. Also the sign elements can be provided on opposite sides of a vertical mounting having front face panels on one side and back face panels on the other.

The display system as particularly described and illustrated can be made from a simple and inexpensive materials. The fabrication of the display system, including both the mounting comprising the 1' face panels and the concave backing can be simple, rapid and relatively inexpensive. The mounting hooks and display elements can be made of simple and cheap materials. For example, the mounting hooks may be defined by lengths of generally U shaped plastics Sextrusion. The face panels of the mounting can be made of any desired material such as plywood or composite board, It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be made to the features of the possible and S preferred embodiment(s) of the invention as herein described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims (14)

1. An interchangeable display system including a mounting and a display element, the mounting comprising an upper face panel having a front face and an elongated lower edge, a lower face panel having a front face and an elongated upper edge, the mounting further including a support backing, the upper and lower face panels being mounted to the support backing so that the upper edge of the lower face panel is spaced forwardly of the support backing so as to define an undercut formation and so that the lower edge of the upper face panel and the upper edge of the lower face panel are spaced apart to define an elongated mounting slot which extends lengthwise along the face panels to an end of the face panels where there is an open end of the mounting slot, the display element including a mounting hook which is mounted at the back of the display element, the mounting hook having a rearwardly extending leg to pass through the mounting slot and also having a downwardly turned foot to locate behind the undercut formation and thereby retain the display element against removal by pulling the display element outwardly away from the mounting or by lifting of the display element, the mounting hook being assembled to the mounting by passing through the open end of the mounting slot and by sliding of the hook along the mounting slot Sto locate the display element at its final desired position in front of the mounting, the display element being composed of an upper face panel and a lower face panel which are spaced apart to define an elongated display element slot extending lengthwise along the face panels to an edge of the face panels where there is an open end of the display element slot, the display element slot being defined between an upper edge of the lower face panel of the display element and a lower edge of the upper face panel of the display element and the upper edge of the lower face panel of the display element being spaced forwardly of a support backing of the display element so as to define an undercut formation, whereb,. the display element provides a mounting for a superimposed display element provided with a mounting hook at the back of the superimposed display element, the mounting hook of the superimposed display element having a rearwardk. extending leg to pass through the display element slot and also having a downwardly turned foot to locate behind the undercut p formation of the display element. 13

2. A display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the support backings is provided with a concavity adjacent the respective mounting slot, the undercut formation at the upper edge of the respective lower face panel being defined by the upper panel edge of the lower face panel overlapping the concavity in the support backing.

3. A display system as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the said at least one of the support backings comprises a corrugated backing member with the corrugations extending horizontally so that each corrugation defines a respective concavity.

4. A display system as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the or each corrugated backing member has a front to which said face panels are mounted as front face panels, the corrugated backing member having a back along which back corrugations extend so as to define concavities, the display system further including back face panels mounted to the back of the corrugated backing member so that the back face panels are spaced apart and define elongated slots along the corrugations and which are arranged to receive mounting hooks in the same manner as the slots defined between the front face panels.

A display system as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the support backing of said mounting comprises a support post which is arranged to be generally upright in use, the support post having at least one concavity formed along its height and arranged so that the undercut formation is defined by mounting of the respective face panel to the support post so that the respective edge of the face panel overlaps the concavity or a respective concavity in the support post.

6. A display system as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said at least one of the support backings comprises a spacing bracket having a concavity, the spacing bracket having respective adjacent face panels mounted thereto with the undercut formation being defined by the respective one of the face panels overlapping the concavity in the spacing bracket.

7. A display system as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the or each spacing bracket has a front and the concavity is provided in the front of the spacing bracket with adjacent face panels being mounted to the front of the spacing bracket, the spacing bracket having a back which is provided with a back concavity whereby back face panels are mounted to the back of the spacing bracket with one of the back '0 *0 if/ Ic F- panels overlapping the back concavity so as to define an undercut. formation extending along a slot defined between adjacent spaced edges of the back face panels and wherebI the display system provides a mounting for display elements at both the front and the back of the spacing bracket.

8. A display system as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the or each spacing bracket comprises a generally H shaped elongated strip having a front web and a back web and a transverse connection, each of the front web and back web each having a respective central recessed section set back from the general plane of the respective web so as to thereby define the respective concavity, the face panels being mo.unted to the webs so that slots between the adjacent spaced edges of the face panels extend along in front of the recessed sections.

9. A display system as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the transverse connection of the or each spacing bracket has a hollow formation in transverse section and has an open mo~uth at an end of the elongated spacing bracket, the display system further including a mo~unting bracket having a tongue which slides through the mo~uth and into the hollow formation of the spacing bracket, the mounting bracket having a projecting portion which extends in use beyond the side edge of the mo~unting and is capable of being fixed to an external structure whereby the mounting and the display element can be mo~unted to the structure so as to project outwardly in cantilever fashion from the structure.

10. A display .system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said at least one of the support backings comprises a spacing bracket having the concavity, the undercut formation being defined by overlapping of the respective panel edge over the concavity, the spacing bracket having an upper mounting web to which one of the face panels is mrounted and a lower mo~unting web substantially coplanar with the upper mo~unting web and to which the uiriediately lower face panel is mounted, the upper and lower mo~unting webs being separated by a recessed section defining the concavity, the spacing bracket further including at least one rearwardly extending projection to space the mo~unting webs forwardly of an adjacent structure to which the spacing bracket is mounted, the spacing bracket further including a hook extending rearwardly beyond the projection whereby the hook can be mounted to a complementary formation in the structure to which the spacing bracket o 0 0000 o 0,0 0 04 0 O 00 4 0 0 *0' p.- is mounted thereby supporting the spacing bracket and the face panels.

11. A display system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each face panel has a spacing projection extending from its rear side, the spacing projection maintaining the respective edges of the panel spaced from the respective support backing to thereby define the respective undercut formation.

12. A display system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each face panel which has an associated undercut formation has a stepped edge defining the undercut formation.

13. A display system as claimed in Claim 12 wherein each face panel is stepped at both its edges so as to define undercut formations at both the upper and lower edges thereof.

14. A display system substantially as herein before described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 6th day of January 1995 PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES Attorneys for CHAIN REACTION SALES PROMOTION PTY LTD o o i o 0 0 o 0 S0 F- i 17 ABSTRACT An interchangeable display system including a mounting (10) for a display element the mounting including a support backing and upper centre (20) and lower (25) face panels mounted to the support backing (30) and spaced forwardly of the support backing with two elongated slots (35, 37) extending lengthwise between the respective face panels. An upper mounting hook (40) is mounted on the back of the display element- (12) and which cooperates with the upper slot and a lower mounting hook (45) on the back of the display element cooperates with the lower slot (37) so that: the two hooks retain the display element and can slide along the respective slots to assemble and disassemble the display element (12) in position in front of the mounting The display element (12) itself may have face panels (115, 120, 125) separated by slots so that a superimposed display element (13) provided with mounting hooks on the back thereof can be mounted in front of the display element (12). __A